Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

J. K. Rowling

Plot Overview

Analysis of Major Characters

Harry Potter -
The
sixteen-year-old protagonist and hero of the book. Harry is the
subject of a prophecy that states that he and Voldemort must one
day face each other and battle, as neither can live while the other
does. He attempts to maintain a normal school life, playing Quidditch
and admiring girls, while simultaneously bearing the enormous weight
of his destiny. Harry is loving, moral, and extremely loyal to his
friends, his school, and headmaster Albus Dumbledore.

Albus Dumbledore -
Headmaster of Hogwarts and a father figure to Harry
Potter. Dumbledore is extraordinarily wise and trusting and an extremely
powerful wizard. Apart from Harry, Dumbledore is Voldemort’s only
other archenemy. He operates with integrity, grace, and surprising
humor.

Lord Voldemort -
Once
a student at Hogwarts named Tom Riddle, now a force of extreme evil.
Voldemort is supported by a cabal of Death Eaters who perform his
bidding. Like Harry, he was raised as an orphan and brought to Hogwarts
by Dumbledore. He has divided his soul into seven Horcruxes, rendering
himself functionally immortal and soulless.

Hermione Granger -
One of Harry Potter’s two best friends. Hermione
is an extremely conscientious student, her hand perpetually in the
air during class. In addition to being highly intelligent, Hermione
is also the more cautious of Harry’s friends, constantly challenging
his quick thinking and lack of foresight. Hermione is a Mudblood,
meaning she is a wizard born to Muggle parents. Many Slytherins,
including Draco Malfoy, deride her for this condition.

Ron Weasley -
The
other of Harry’s best friends. Strong, impulsive, and anxious, Ron
is a lovable goof. He plays the position of keeper for the Gryffindor
Quidditch team. He briefly dates Lavender Brown but seems to have
a longstanding and unspoken interest in Hermione.

Severus Snape -
A
former Death Eater and longtime professor of Potions at Hogwarts.
This year, Dumbledore promotes Snape to professor of Defense Against
the Dark Arts. Harry, Ron, and Hermione don’t trust or like Snape. Several
members of the Order feel similarly, but Dumbledore continually
insists that Snape is reformed and a crucial member of the Order
and the Hogwarts faculty. Snape and Harry’s father, James Potter,
were enemies when they were students at Hogwarts, which may color
Snape’s cruel treatment of Harry.

Draco Malfoy -
One
of Harry’s classmates, the son of convicted Death Eater Lucius Malfoy
and Narcissa Malfoy. Draco is mean, cold, and demanding, and Harry suspects
him to be a Death Eater like his father. He constantly mocks Hermione
and other Mudbloods for their impure heritage.

Horace Slughorn -
The newly recruited Professor of Potions at Hogwarts.
Slughorn is obsessed with making the acquaintance of potentially
powerful and influential young wizards. He hosts weekly parties
in his room, inviting only select students known as the “Slug Club.” Posesses
an important memory of Voldemort, having been the first person to
tell Voldemort what a Horcrux is.

Ginny Weasley -
Ron
Weasley’s pretty, popular younger sister. Harry develops strong
feelings for Ginny but prevents himself from acting on them because
he is afraid of jeopardizing his relationship with Ron. Eventually, after
an especially triumphant Quidditch match, Harry kisses her, to Ron’s
approval. Like Ron, Ginny is extremely brave, and she has fought
with the Order of the Phoenix and is a member of Dumbledore’s Army, the
group of students who banded together to study Defense Against the
Dark Arts in the previous novel in the series.

Rufus Scrimgeour -
Cornelius Fudge’s replacement as the Minister of
Magic. Scrimgeour pesters Harry to align himself with the Ministry
to give the Wizarding world the illusion that they are working together
to stop Voldemort. He accuses Harry of being “Dumbledore’s man”
through and through.

Minerva McGonagall -
The Head of House for Gryffindor and the instructor
of Transfiguration. McGonagall has earned a reputation for being
a tough but extremely fair professor. She is Dumbledore’s deputy
headmistress.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley -
Ron’s parents, members of the Order of the Phoenix.
The Weasleys’ treat Harry as if he was their own son and welcome
him back to the Burrow on all school breaks and holidays.

Katie Bell -
A
seventh-year Hogwarts student and the Gryffindor Quidditch team’s
prize Chaser. Katie is cursed by a necklace given to her in the
bathroom of the Three Broomsticks.

Romilda Vane -
A
classmate of Harry’s who pursues a romantic interest in him. Romilda
gives Harry a gift of Chocolate Cauldrons spiked with a love potion,
which Ron consumes by mistake.

More Help

He received an Outstanding on his Defense Against the Dark Arts OWL and Exceeds Expectations in; Potions, Transfiguration, Charms, Herbology, and Care of Magical Creatures. Those are top grades he was only one of twelve students able to make it to advanced Potions and Minerva McGonagall herself complimented Harry on his Transfiguration OWL. "I was pleased with your Transfiguration mark, Potter, very pleased." I understand that your trying to get across that Harry isn't perfect we get that but, your also not doing him justice which isn't fair.